Tañada, Biazon still in LP coalition's senatorial list

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada and Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon are still being considered as possible senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party-led administration coalition.

“They remain in the long list of up to 15 potential candidates of the coalition. In fact, they are two of the few Liberal Party (LP) members being considered,” Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, LP secretary general, said yesterday.

He said Tañada and Biazon could make it to the ticket if nominees of LP’s coalition partners decide to run with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

He said the two LP members were within striking distance of the winners’ circle of 12 in the latest surveys on senatorial preferences.

The ruling party’s coalition partners are the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which is identified with San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. and the company’s president, Ramon Ang, and the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

The NPC has nominated two of its members – Sen. Loren Legarda and Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile – and former member Sen. Francis Escudero to be part of the coalition’s senatorial ticket.

However, of the three, only Escudero is sure to run with the administration slate.

Legarda and Enrile have reportedly expressed preference to run under UNA.

Enrile’s father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, sits in the three-member UNA executive committee with Binay and Estrada.

That means that two slots in the NPC component of the coalition ticket would be up for grabs and could be given to Tañada and Biazon.

Biazon, who lost his first senatorial bid in 2010, is still unsure of trying another run. LP leaders have said they were reserving one slot in their ticket for Biazon or his father, former senator and now Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.

However, the elder Biazon said he was giving way to his son “because we have to give a chance to and train young leaders, who will inherit the mantle of leadership of this country.”

As its nominees to the coalition ticket, Villar’s NP has submitted the names of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV and Villar’s wife Cynthia, a former Las Piñas congresswoman.

But some LP leaders feel that Trillanes could become a liability to the slate because of his raging word war with Enrile, who has promised to campaign against him and unmask him as a “fraud and a novato” in foreign relations.

Trillanes served as “back channel negotiator” in attempts to resolve the country’s territorial dispute with China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Last week, President Aquino said it was the Chinese who approached Trillanes and requested him to be a messenger between Beijing and Manila.

Aquino said the senator called him while the latter was in China, where Chinese officials met him with their request.

This belies the senator’s claim that his involvement was the idea of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

TESDA chief won’t run

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Joel Villanueva announced yesterday that he will no longer run for senator in the 2013 elections and will stay in the Cabinet of President Aquino.

After turning to prayer and conducting soul searching and consultations with the people, Villanueva said that he has decided to stay in the Cabinet.

Villanueva said that there was much speculation over his running for the Senate in the 2013 polls despite him making no official announcement of his candidacy.

He lamented that his reported senatorial ambition led to his inclusion in the list of so-called “epal” politicians with his TESDA billboards promoting technical-vocational education to Filipinos as a faster way to get jobs.

Epal is short for mapapel, referring to people who use billboards and posters to promote themselves.

He denied that TESDA funds were used for the tarpaulins and billboards used to promote the agency’s programs, but he got donations from “friends and people who believe in me and the programs of TESDA.”

Villanueva said that the President supported his decision not to run, sharing that the Chief Executive was even the one who asked him to stay in the Cabinet.

Villanueva was a colleague of the President in the House of Representatives when the latter was Tarlac congressman and the former Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list representative.

He stressed that his family, headed by his father, Jesus is Lord Movement leader and former presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva, had high ethical standards and stake in maintaining the integrity of their name.

Villanueva also stressed that recent surveys on the chances of the personalities believed to be running for the Senate where he has so far fared poorly had nothing to do with his decision not to run.

The ruling LP yesterday held its first proclamation rally in its bailiwick in Cavite, where President Aquino endorsed the candidates led by incumbent Rep. Ireneo Maliksi, who will run for governor in the May 2013 elections.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas also lauded the inclusion of LP vice gubernatorial bet Jay Lacson, son of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and re-electionist Rep. Elpidio Barzaga.

Aquino also praised Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, a Caviteño, whom he recently appointed to be the new secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication, following the transfer of Roxas to the DILG.

Aquino recalled the kindness of Maliksi during the post-Marcos era, when their family was still struggling from the authoritarian rule, assuring them that they will do their best to help the country get rid of the dictator.

Aquino raised the hands of LP candidates in the province led by Maliksi, Lacson, candidates for provincial board members, congressmen, vice mayor, and councilors during the proclamation rally held at the Maranatha Sports Complex, Malagasang II-D, Imus City.

Maliksi said the enhancement of his scholarship program and the implementation of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) project in Cavite will be one of his main objectives if he succeeds in returning to the capitol next year.

He vowed to send more indigent children to school while promising more efficient transportation system through the LRT in the event he wins in the 2013 polls.

“The time is ripe for me to be with my people again. Education and a faster mode of transportation are what our people need for a better life,” Maliksi said before some 20,000 multi-sectoral representatives from all over Cavite who gathered to support the former governor’s bid.

He assured Caviteños he will “bring back the glory days of Cavite” that lacked development under the present administration.

Maliksi said he is aiming to return to the Cavite capitol under a platform of various reform programs on governance, livelihood, education, health, employment, and infrastructure. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero